Wagons In the Winter

As I said before, The ol' 64 Plymouth was a beast in the snow, probly due to the afore mentioned "Rear over hang". Fortunately enough it is now enjoying the winters in a garage.
I had an Exploder and it was one of the most capable snow rigs I ever had, but it all comes down to the driver really. I spent the last four years driving my 78 F-250 crew cab 2wd in the winter. Good tires, a little weight in the bed and kicking in into neutral when coming to a stop is all I needed to get by. I recently "up-graded" to a 96 F-350 Powerstroke 4wd. Still drive the same way. Fwd is great, as long as you don't drive like you are invincible (like an idiot)
Only front wheel drive I have ever owned is my wife's Mercury. It's got the studded snow tires on it right now. She's good as long as it doesn't get to dicey.
If it does, she calls me to pick her up.
Rear wheel drive is the way to go. People have been getting along just fine in RWD rigs since the dawn of the automobile. Add a little weight, and know your limitations. As the rural school bus drivers in our area say " If the roads are bad enough, you have no business driving anyway!"

 

Wagons in snow

Well, I'd drive my Buick wagon in snow but there really is no comparison so my 92 Turbo Subaru Wagon. My neighbour came home in his 4x4 Ranger during one of our snowy periods. He went to drive up his driveway which is about 300ft long and up a fairly steep hill. He said he couldn't get up so he parked at the bottom. He put the E-brake on and put it in park, got out of the vehicle, slammed the door and heard a strange noise as he turned to walk away. The truck had slid out of his driveway, across the road and into the neighbours driveway! I told him I'd come over and give him a hand so I fired up the subaru and headed over. The subaru went up his driveway both backwards and forwards without hesitation. I carry a set of chains in the car but have never had to put them on yet. The only thing I have found with the car that stops it is deep wet snow over the bumper. Once the tires are pried up off the ground, I don't have traction

 

Yeah, mad....I have probably 10 or 15 of those Subaru stories. I have pulled 4WD trucks out of the ditch and up hills they couldn't make in the snow. Certain models are simply awesome. That's why I have been on a long time search for just the right one. One like I used to own years ago.

 

So, which model Subaru is on your "best snowcat" list? I was thinking about an 85 DL wagon with a proper transfer case.

 

82-83-84 Hatch, stick. Short wheel base & hi/lo make it the champ. DL's, typically, do not have the hi/lo.

 

Interesting. I think my old DL had the hi lo transfer case. I'll have to start hunting for a non- rusty one (good luck)

 

sound more like ranger didn't have very good winter tires to me!

 

Oh great...should have kept my mouth shut. I've been looking for the right car for a year and now I have ANOTHER guy looking for one.
Dual range was in all 4WD, non-turbo, manual tranny GL's from 81-89. DL's were single range and 85-89 GL turbo's were single range.

 

Haaa..

Sliver and Madbiker1..You are far from alone out there!

Lots of fans in search of the same..me included!

Silver, are you sure the incredible 77' Country Squire closing on Ebay today for $12,000+ wouldn't work for you?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ford...Zp5197Q2em7QQcategoryZ6057QQitemZ220747277917

 

Work how? I have a wagon. Looking for my Subie.